Range Crossing workers sent home without pay

THE CFMEU has confirmed that workers on the $1.6bn Toowoomba Second Range Crossing were sent home without pay yesterday.

A source on the site yesterday reported to The Chronicle that workers had been sent home from central sites on the project without pay after meeting with the union to discuss "harassment and safety concerns" and that workers would be locked off site today.

CFMEU assistant state secretary Jade Ingham confirmed it had received several similar reports from workers on the project.

"Workplace Health and Safety inspectors acknowledged there were serious safety breaches and when that occurred Nexus had no choice so they sent workers home," Mr Ingham said.

"But they have kicked them in the teeth by sending them home without pay."

Mr Ingham detailed several claims to the union of safety, harassment and fatigue concerns made by workers on the site.

Those concerns sparked yesterday's meeting with workers.

"The job is a ticking time bomb because you can't have a toxic safety culture and such disregard workers for too long before your luck runs out," Mr Ingham said.